Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-01-17
mn sENArORIAL CONTEsT.

TIE SENATORIAL CONTEST.
Now, Fiat the day prescribed by law for
the commencement in the two branches of
the West Virginia Legislature Of the bal
lu'us FOR Mr. Camden's successor in the
United states Senate draws appreciably
ulsh. the air Is rife with rumOrs. of
course, this Is a natural consequence: 1t
iSalwavS So. II Is 10 be regretted that
some of these rumOTS are anything but
lattrring To the character of certain inn
practicable lobbyists. To explain: it is
whispered that Democratic members Of
the Legislature, presumed or known
q he opposed to Mr.. Camden's
reelection, have actually been
approached with the base and diShonOra-
hle proposition to stay away from the
party caucus We are 10th to believe that
any Dcmocrat-thOugh self-cOnstituted
lobbvi>t-shOuld be so entirely cost to in
divIdual honor and party obligation rs to
URGE the chosen representative of q Dem
urratic constituency to abandon his cOlOrs
in the fare Of the enemy. Cah any one in
his sober senses fancy for q moment that
any senator or Delegate who participated
I'm the Democratic caucus OF organization
will prove 80 base aS to voluntarily turn
his mack upon the most important party
caucus Of the SESSION.
The political history Of America does re-
cord few isolated cases where such
shameless tactics were reSOTted to for the
purpose OF defeating popular candidate.
But tD the credit Of free institutions he 1t
sid that as the result Of every such act
ot treachery the perpetrators were con-
signed to lasting OblOquy. As Demo-
cratic Journal, pledged to the support Of
Democratic measures, the Star has thus
far deemed il hest 10 withhold any eX-
preston nf its preference, coniidins IN the
wisdom of the Legislature, whose cOnSti-
tutioEal duty it ~ to make the selection.
But when LOBBYISTS come here To Charles
ton, or worse still, when lobbyists living
here n Charleston, try Ia dlSmember the
party In order 10 gain their ends, we be
iicvr II 10 hr duty that we owe ~ well
tn the public - the Democratic party, to
drnuunrc n IN thar fOrrible language Of
our Democratic President rs indecent
aud unfair ~ Chpri, StOR star.
There Is seldom a contest for an import
ant office IN which there Is not resort TO
some questionable or intriguing measures
by some party or faction. Some men to
gain advantage lor themselves may betray
their own party and enter intOa despicabic
compact with the enemy. Others, on ac-
count of personal DISLIKE for some man
held high in the estimation by the great
majority OF his party, resolve to ruin the
patty rather than see this man elevated to
the position to which the people desire to
choose. him. Some of the men referred tO
abo.r. who are bent on rule OF ruin,
NAV have been entrusted with office by the
party, With the expectation that they would
Use every honest ende.IyOr to further party
interests. while some may try to accom-
pli1h their purpose rs lobbyists such rs
the Slou refers to ~ now crOwding the
lobby at Charleston.
1t WAS to DC expected that the enemy
would leave no stone unturned tO divide
and di>iutegrate the Democracy of the
State. But when Democrat constitutes
himself 4 lobbyist and resorts to all the
means In his power to accomplish the wish
of the enemy, that Democrat brings upon
himself the obloquy OF his party Just IN
proporiion to the baseneSs Of the methods
he employs and the fatality of thestabS he
gives the party Democratic members ol
the Legislature need to keep an eye on such
lobbyists. The more their disregard for
the party's good and the more underhand-
"a the methods they propose, the more
should they be looked upon with suspicion
But the Star mentions in addition to the
lobbyists who came here to Charleston
lobbyists living here in Charleston.
What does the .SsT mean by making tins
distinction? Is this corroboratiOn OF the
rumOr that comes up from Charleston, that
certain State officials have forgotten the
trust placed in them by the Democracy oi
the State and are working in concert with
the Republicans and certain lobbyists who
are seeking to accomplish what will even
tUally result in disaster tC
the Democratic party and great gain for
the Republicans? We cannot believe
either the rumor or that the words Of the
iS'or are intended TO eorrobOrate it, We
are acquainted with our State officials per-
sOnally and by reputation, and have re-
garled them rs Democrats, whose DemOc'
racy is ~ true as steel. We cannot belieNe
that the Governor is referred to, because
his GithfulueSs and honor rs Democrat
and his appreciation of the trust placed ia
him by his party would make him shur
anything that would degrade his
Office or his honor. He recognizes
that the Democrats of West Virginia have